ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ

As of 2023, roughly one-fifth of both Saudi men and women surveyed said that they had not visited any cultural events or activities in the country. Among those who attended cultural events and activities, cinemas and national celebrations were the most popular at around ** and **** percent, respectively.

The gender divide

Saudi Arabia is widely criticized for its legal, economic, political, cultural, and institutional structures systematically disfavoring women. Global gender gap index reports list the country among the least gender-equal places. A category-wise gender gap index examination shows that scores for educational attainment and health and survival are very high. However, low scores in economic participation and opportunity and very low scores in political empowerment result in an overall low index value. It should also be noted that a gender inequality study designed by the Saudi government for Saudi citizens found little to no gender inequality in 2022. While many challenges like male guardianship and low female employment rates remain, significant societal and governmental progress in this regard has been made. 

Women empowerment

Following the 2018 decree that enabled women to drive a car in Saudi Arabia for the first time, a more optimistic atmosphere for gender equality was created. This was reflected in a survey that found that the kingdom was among the most optimistic countries, where most of the residents expressed that gender equality will be achieved in their lifetime. A 2024 survey reported that Saudi Arabia had the second-highest share of female adult population engaged in entrepreneurial activity out of 51 countries examined.